Full-Stack UX Engineering

GuardConnect

UX Engineer · Software Engineering for Consultants, Northeastern University Practicum

Focus: End-to-end product development, role-based systems, scalable frontend architecture

GuardConnect is a full-stack web application that centralizes communication and mentorship for the Massachusetts National Guard, improving how members receive information, connect, and navigate their careers.

UX Problem

Communication was fragmented across multiple channels with no central source of truth.
Mentorship opportunities were informal and difficult to access.
Organizational hierarchy was not reflected in existing tools, creating confusion around permissions and information flow.

My Role

Led UX design from research through high-fidelity interfaces.
Built frontend features using Next.js, implementing core user flows and UI components.
Collaborated on system design, including role-based permissions and data structure.
Translated complex workflows into clear, usable interfaces.

UX Strategy

Designed around real-world hierarchy to reflect how information flows in the Guard.
Prioritized clarity in high-impact workflows like announcements and mentorship.
Balanced flexibility with structure to support different user roles.
Iterated quickly between design and implementation.

Execution

End-to-end user flows and interaction design
Frontend development (Next.js, component-based architecture)
Role-based communication system (broadcasts, channels)
Responsive UI and design system patterns

Outcome

Delivered a working web application that improved communication visibility, enabled structured mentorship, and provided a scalable foundation for future development.

Links

Brand Book Github Repository

Project Gallery